The 2026 Gaming Price Hikes: Every Console and Handheld That Got More Expensive (And Why)

2026 is the year gaming hardware got more expensive across the board. Not one console — all of them. The Steam Deck, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch 2 have all seen price increases this year, and the retro handheld market has been quietly absorbing the same pressure for months.

This is the big-picture companion to our 2026 RAM shortage guide. If you want to understand why your shortlist suddenly costs more — and what's still safe to buy — start here.

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The One Cause Behind All of It: Memory

Almost every 2026 price increase traces back to the same root: a global memory shortage driven by AI data centers buying up the world's supply of RAM and NAND flash.

• DDR5 contract prices have roughly quadrupled in recent months.
• NAND flash (SSDs, console/handheld storage) and GDDR/VRAM have spiked alongside it.
• Memory makers — Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron — are prioritizing high-margin AI server memory over the standard chips used in consoles, handhelds, phones, and laptops.

When the single most price-volatile component in a gaming device suddenly costs several times more, manufacturers have two choices: eat the loss or raise prices. In 2026, almost everyone chose to raise prices.

Every Confirmed 2026 Price Hike

Steam Deck OLED — up to +$300 (May 27, 2026)

The most dramatic of the bunch. Valve raised the Steam Deck OLED by up to $300:

We covered this in detail in our Steam Deck OLED price hike breakdown. Valve cited rising component costs — primarily memory — and stock sold out again within days even at the higher price.

PlayStation 5 — price increase

Sony has raised PS5 pricing in 2026, citing the same broad economic and component-cost pressures.

Xbox — price increase

Microsoft's Xbox hardware has also seen 2026 price increases.

Nintendo Switch 2 — hike coming in September 2026

Nintendo has confirmed a Switch 2 price increase scheduled for September 2026, having previously acknowledged pricing pressure from the memory market.

Retro handhelds — quietly climbing since spring

The retro handheld market was hit early. As documented in our RAM shortage guide:

• Retroid Pocket 6 (12GB) discontinued; 8GB model price increased.
• Retroid Pocket Classic rose from $129 to $149.
• AYN and AYANEO raised prices across multiple models, with some devices discontinued entirely.
• Lenovo Legion Go 2 climbed past $1,800.

What's Still Safe From the Shortage

Here's the good news: not everything went up, and the devices that held steady are the ones built on older, cheaper silicon that AI data centers don't want.

Budget handhelds under $100 are the safe zone. Devices using chips like the Allwinner H700 (Anbernic RG35XX line) or older Unisoc parts use tiny amounts of standard RAM, which insulates them from the memory crunch. They're still excellent values — and for anyone whose library tops out at PS1, they're genuinely the smarter buy in 2026.

Best Safe-Bet Budget Pick: Anbernic RG35XX Plus (~$65)

Plays everything through PS1 flawlessly, uses memory chips that aren't in AI's crosshairs, and costs a tenth of a new Steam Deck. If the price hikes have you rattled, this is the antidote.

Still-Reasonable Mid-Range: Anbernic RG40XXV (~$75)

A bigger 4" screen and the same shortage-resistant chip class. Great for the 8/16/32-bit canon plus light N64/PSP. See our budget handheld guide for the full shortlist.

What This Means If You're Buying in 2026

Three takeaways:

1. If you want something mid-range or premium, buy it sooner rather than later. Industry projections suggest memory prices may stay inflated until 2028–2030. Waiting is likely to cost you more, not less.
2. Budget handhelds are your hedge. A sub-$100 device covers a massive library and is the least exposed to further increases. For many people, it's all they actually need.
3. Consider the used market for premium devices. Pre-hike Steam Decks and discontinued handhelds are now genuinely cheaper secondhand than new — the price gap finally justifies it.

For the full handheld-specific buying strategy, read our 2026 RAM shortage guide, and see where the market stands overall in our State of Retro Handhelds 2026 mid-year recap.

Prices and confirmed increases reflect the best available information as of May 30, 2026 and are subject to change. We'll update this article as the situation evolves.